Report: Graffiti artist deemed 'mentally unfit' to stand trial

From DNAinfo:

An East Village graffiti artist was deemed mentally unfit Wednesday to face charges that he fatally stabbed a fellow tagger in the neck in a dispute over a girl, prosecutors said.

The murder case of Jairo Pastoressa, 25, will be put on hold while the alleged murderer is held and treated at Kirby Forensic Psychiatric Center on Ward's Island. Pastoressa's lawyer would not disclose his client's diagnosis with he's while under psychiatric care.

[Photo by Jefferson Siegel via DNAinfo]

Meanwhile, TBD explores why Gawker posted a bloody photo of victim Christopher Lusko lying on Seventh Street.... Gawker removed the photo several days later after objections from Lusko's family and friends.

Previously.

'2 Days' this afternoon on Avenue A

"2 Days in New York" filming today at the Odessa Cafe on Avenue A... Several people spotted Vincent Gallo on the scene. Apparently he has a cameo or something. While leaving, he was heard saying, "that was easy." And he may have had some free time to rag on Kanye West.

The crew has been filming all over the place... BoweryBoogie has more on it here. The comedy is written and directed by Julie Delpy... and features Delpy and Chris Rock in a sequel to "2 Days in Paris."

EV Grieve Etc.: Mourning edition

Ousted Coney Island biz owners lawyer up (The Post)

Someone who thinks Coney Island is getting better now (YourNabe.com)

RIP Coney Island Bank Building (Scouting New York)

The Shake Shack Effect (Jeremiah's Vanishing NY)

Shooting a tea commercial in Tompkins Square Park (Melanie's East Village Corner)


Sanitation Department plays tree pit basketball (via Blue Glass) on 10th Street.

Memories of CBGB (Patell and Waterman’s History of New York)

LES Jewels makes the scene on Avenue A (Nadie Se Conoce)

Here come the holidays on Orchard Street (BoweryBoogie)

Why the world's 10th wealthiest person was recently in the East Village (Neighborhoodr)

And tonight at Otto's... in the front room...

Fate of The Theaters at 45 Bleecker Street seems decided

In mid-October, The Theaters at 45 Bleecker Street abruptly shut its doors... According to various news accounts, the theater has been involved in a long-running dispute with the building's landlord, Rogers Investment. The landlord had the property seized on Oct. 13, putting an end to two Off-Broadway productions, including "The Deep Throat Sex Scandal."



The theater manager told the Times on Oct. 14: “We’re really hoping to reopen immediately ... but I can’t say anything more because of the gravity of the case. We hope to say something more soon about how we’re looking to survive this hurdle.”

Meanwhile, the landlord has apparently decided to move forward... some rather homemade-looking "for rent" signs have just gone up at the space near Lafayette.




Be sure to read the Times piece for the backstory.

Reminders tonight: Meet the owner of 34 Avenue A

As reported, Jevan Damadian wants to meet neighbors tonight to discuss his plans for 34 Avenue A. Thanks to the EV Grieve reader for snapping the new signage in the window...

Previously on EV Grieve:
New owner of the former Aces and Eights space speaks out; "the beer pong is gone"

New owner of the Aces and Eights space wants to "meet the approval of the community"

And be sure to read The Lo-Down's interview with Jevan for the background on how he got where he is today....

An Italianate-style townhouse and an old Maple tree on East Fifth Street

Here's a townhouse that has been for sale now the last month on one of my favorite blocks in the neighborhood — East Fifth Street between Avenue A and Avenue B...




It's going for $3.95 million. Here are details:

Italianate style townhouse tucked into a quiet block of the burgeoning East Village. There is a lovely front courtyard with a half century old maple tree. With it's large extension on all four floors, this house offers over 6300 square feet of living space. Due to the configuration of the extension, the home has four exposures on the upper three floors and three exposures on the garden level. Original mantels, window frames, baseboards and original floors have been preserved on many floors. Currently there is an owner's duplex, two floor through apartments and a front garden apartment. A charming garden meanders along the east of the property and opens up in the rear. There is also potential for a wonderful roof deck. This townhouse is delivered vacant and is perfect for conversion to a wonderful single or two family home

.

In fact, there's an open house today from noon to 1:30 p.m.

Of course, the last townhouse that I really liked on this block — just a few doors to the east — was torn down to make way for a Williamsburgate condo.

The spirit of East Fifth Street

As I was saying, East Fifth Street between Avenue A and Avenue B is one of my favorite blocks around... and, aside from the masses looking for the Ace Bar on weekends, it's a lovely little street with a strong sense of community...

And this is the block in which the family of East Village-based professional photographer James Maher spent their lives... His grandparents and mother all grew up here... Thanks to James for letting me post some of his family photos from the 1930s and 1940s. (He has many more at his site, New York Photography by James Maher)

Talk about a strong sense of community. Here's a celebration of the "Fifth Street Boys" returning home from World War II.

Per James on the photos below: "I just spoke with my Aunt who tells me that the photo was taken around 1945 to celebrate the end of the war. I don't know exactly which building, but apparently my grandma and relatives had three apartments in the same building on 5th Street between Avenue A and B, which is where this photo was taken from. My grandmother and all of her sisters are most of the girls that are looking up at the camera in the second photo."




And here's a shot likely taken on East Fifth Street... on the way to an Easter Party...



And, arguably my favorite photo... "This is taken of my Great Aunt Julia, who lived until she was 100. She was sharper at 99 than I am at this moment, and it's nice to see a younger photo that shows the same spark that everyone knew her for." This was taken on a rooftop of an East Fifth Street building...



[Find a few more family photos like the one above at the New York Photograph Blog]

And as Mick noted in the comments, Ephemeral New York — an EVG favorite — highlighted "The East Fifth Street Boys" in a post on Sunday.

Reflecting on 'Alphaville'

At the Daily News, Denis Hamill has high praise for "Alphaville: 1988, Crime, Punishment, and the Battle for New York City's Lower East Side." St. Martin's Press released the book yesterday. It's a memoir by retired NYPD detective Michael Codella (and written with Bruce Bennett).

"It's one of the best cop books I've ever read, and sits on my bookshelf beside such classics as 'The French Connection,' Serpico' and 'Prince of the City.'"

Hamill accompanies Codella on a stroll down Avenue D ... where Codella and his partner Gio worked to stem the tide of the neighborhood's heroin trade in the 1980s. "When I first came here, everybody told me Alphaville was a lost cause," he says. "Kids kicked syringes instead of cans to school. Today women jog, listening to iPods. Couples eat in outdoor cafes. Kids walk safely to school. I busted one junkie kid named Mario at least 10 times. One day he shows up clean, saying we made it so hard to cop dope that he was forced into rehab. If I helped save one kid, yeah, it was worth it. But I think me and my partner helped save this neighborhood filled with good people from the junkies and the dealers."

Hop to it: Good Beer NYC now open

The craft beer shop opened yesterday on Ninth Street between Avenue A and First Avenue. Good Beer received a blessing from the 9th Street Block Association last summer... They're open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday; Noon to 7 p.m. on Sundays. Per their mission statement: Good Beer is "dedicated to providing customers with the best draft and bottled beers, charcuterie, cheeses, sausages and hot dogs with an emphasis on organic, heritage and regional products."

Here's an article on the place via Thrillist... Chris O'Leary wrote about the shop back in July at Brew York, New York.

[Photos via Facebook]

Get Roasted!: Roastown Coffee is now open

At Second Avenue and St. Mark's Place. Today is the grand opening. If you try it, please drop me a comment...

A bicycle thief

Here's a partial narrative from a 7 year old recounting how his bicycle was stolen on Seventh Street... via @XoomNYC

EV Grieve Etc.: Mourning edition

Broken water pipe shuts down 13th Street between Second Avenue and Third Avenue (DNAinfo)

The mall-ification of NYC continues (The Post)

The online video series The City Concealed kicks off with a look at Swing Street (Thirteen.org)

An "evening" with Sheryl Lee Ralph via 1984 East Village (Jeremiah's Vanishing NY)

Something new and swanky for Ludlow Street (BoweryBoogie)

CB2's turn to question new NYU tower (Curbed)

Honoring the longtime manager at Russ & Daughters (The Lo-Down)